View report page

Infectious Diseases and the Means taken to Prevent
their Spread.
It will be seen from Table III. that (excluding the Asylum)
122 Notification Certificates of Infectious Diseases were received,
as compared with 50 in 1906 and 78 in 1907. The increase was
due to the large number of notifications of Scarlet Fever and to
a less extent of Diphtheria.
On receipt of information respecting infectious cases the
premises are visited, a printed list of instructions as to necessary
precautions is given and explained, disinfectants are supplied, and
the schools attended, in the case of children, and their employers
in the case of adults, notified.
Removal to an Isolation Hospital is offered, and where
accepted is carried out, subject to beds being obtained.
After recovery or removal of an infectious case, disinfection
of the room or rooms occupied is performed by means of sulphur
and formalin. Cleansing and stripping notices are served where
necessary.
Clothes, bedding, etc., are removed to Finchley, where they
are put through the steam disinfector.
Antitoxin is supplied free to medical men for use in cases
occurring in the District.
Supplies of Antitoxin are kept at the Council Chambers in
the Central Ward, and at the residence of the Medical Officer of
Health in the North Ward.
Medical men have availed themselves of this serum, both for
acute cases and as a preventive.
Bacteriological Examinations.
During the year the application of this process has been
much extended for diagnostic purposes, and has been much
appreciated.